Co-axial connector



C. R. THEVE CO-AXIAL CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 20, 1966 Dec. 10, 1968 wm \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\%v INVENTOR.

6 EV V m E O H T T T A R S M/ E L R A H Y //A///fi AV/AVAV/ A J V a MN MW w MW. 7/ /M//&T u

United States Patent 3,416,125 CO-AXIAL CONNECTOR Charles R. Theve, Barrington, R.I., assignor to Ostby & Barton Co., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Oct. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 588,689 Claims. (Cl. 339-177) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Co-axial connectors extending through a movable panel, and arranged in a pattern to contact corresponding junctions on a second panel at one end, and to be joined at the other end by mating connection means. The connectors have inner and outer sleeves which contain springprojected butt contacts.

The present invention relates to improvements in spring loaded contacts and to electrical contact assemblies.

It is common practice in the electronics industry and especially in the data processing field to employ Opposing perforated panel boards one of which is usually held fixed while the other is movable into and out of cooperating relationship therewith. The first panel may be provided with a plurality of junctions arranged in a pattern to which a series of incomplete electrical circuits or circuit components are connected. A plurality of spring loaded contacts releasably mounted in the opposing or second panel are arranged in a pattern similar to that of the first and themselves connect to desired electrical components so as to make various circuit connections when the panels are brought into sufficient proximity that the contacts of one mechanically and electrically engage with the junctions of the other.

The present invention sets forth a novel contact construction permitting an integrated coaxial or multipath connection between circuit components whereby a single contact may now replace two or more conventional contacts. The single contact hereby made known is formed of at least two concentric tubular castings. A terminal contact projects from the end of each casing and a spring in each casing interconnects both electrically and mechanically the opposing terminal contacts one of which is fixed, the other movable relative to its associated casing. To electrically isolate the components of the inner casing from those of the outer casing, a dielectric sleeve is fittingly received about the peripheral surface of the inner casing. The novel multipath contact is engageable with a junction of the multiple contact variety whereby a single spring loaded contact is now capable of simultaneously connecting two or more circuits, conventional contacts only being capable of connecting a single circuit at any given time.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved spring loaded contact.

Another object is the provision of an improved spring loaded contact arranged to provide a multipath connection between electrical components.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved spring loaded contact arranged in two parts which are mechanically connected but electrically distinct to achieve a multipath connection between electrical components.

Still another object is the provision of an improved spring loaded contact assembly which is capable of connecting electrical circuit components mounted at different heights.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved spring loaded contact assembly capable of switching between electrical circuit components.

Other and further objects will be apparent or will ap- 3,416,125 Patented Dec. 10, 1968 pear in the description which follows taken together with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a detail view partly in section of a connector assembly employing a novel spring loaded contact.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and having reference first to FIGURES 1 and 2, a spring loaded contact is generally indicated at 10. Contact 10 includes an inner casing 12, a pair of terminal contacts 14 and 16, and a spring 18 disposed between said contacts. Inner casing 12 is of thin Walled tubular form made preferably of brass or other conductive metal.

The terminal contact 14 is of plunger-like form including a cylindrical slide portion 20 slidably received in the inner casing 12 and a reduced diameter projecting end 22 having a rounded tip 24. The terminal contact 14 is also made of brass, preferably, with heavy gold plate. To confine slide portion 14 within the inner casing 12 the corresponding end of the latter is turned in to provide an end wall 25 having a small opening 26 through which projecting end 14 is free to move.

The terminal contact 16, similar to terminal 14, is of plunger-like form including a cylindrical portion 28 received in the inner casing 12 and a reduced diameter projecting end 30 having a rounded tip 32. The terminal contact 16 is also made of brass, preferably, with heavy gold plate. An annular recess 34 is formed in the surface of cylindrical portion 28 and the corresponding end of inner casing 12 is turned in at 36 to firmly engage said recess and thus prevent movement of terminal contact 16 relative to inner casing 12.

The spring 18 which is of selected pressure characteristics when confined in the space between cylindrical portions 20 and 28 is composed of beryllium copper with silver plate. Each of the cylindrical portions 20 and 28 have inner ends of reduced diameter, shown respectively at 38 and 40, which serve to retain the ends of spring 18 to assure its continued alignment.

Outer casing 42 is similarly of thin walled tubular form made preferably of brass, or other conductive material, plated with gold or silver. A pair oftubular-shaped terminal contacts 44 and 46, respectively, are partially received withinouter casing 42 and a spring 48 is disposed therebetween. An extended annular recess 50 is formed in the surface of terminal contact 44 at a spaced distance from its rounded nose end 51 and the corresponding end of outer casing 42 is turned in at 52 but not so far as to engage the bottom surface thereof.

That portion of terminal contact 44 received within the outer casing is slidable therein between the limits defined by annular recess 50.

An annular recess 54 is formed in the surface of terminal contact 46 and the corresponding end of outer casing 42 is turned in at 56 to firmly engage said recessand thus prevent movement of the contact relative to the outer casing. This portion of contact 46 received within outer casing 42 fits snugly therein but the end portion is reduced as at 58 to be compatible with standard commercial connectors.

Like spring 18, spring 48 is of selected pressure characteristics when confined in the space between contacts 44 and 46 and is composed of beryllium copper with silver plate. Also, each of the contacts 44 and 46 have inner ends of reduced diameter, shown respectively at 60 and 62, which serve to retain the ends of spring 48 and to assure its continued alignment.

'Do electrically isolate inner casing 12 and its associated components from outer casing 42 and its associated components, a tubular sleeve 64 of any suitable dielectric material is snugly received over the inner casing and further serves to support terminal contact 46 which is fitted closely thereover.

With the structure of the spring loaded contact now fully disclosed, its operation will be apparent. A first stationary terminal contact 16 is connected via spring 18 to a first movable terminal contact 14. In like manner, a second stationary terminal contact 46 is connected via spring 48 to a second movable terminal contact 44. Thus, both contact 14 and contact 44 are axially adjustable to assure a positive electrical connection with their respective mating junctions.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, spring loaded contact 10 is shown being supported in panel board 66, composed of a suitable dielectric material, as by means of a press fit in aperture 68. However, it is within the purview of this invention to form the outer casing 42 and aperture 68 such that contact 10 is screwed into the panel board 66, for example, or otherwise attached thereto. A standard coaxial plug 70 is shown connected to the stationary terminal contacts 16 and 46 housed at one end of spring loaded contact 10 and is connected with other electrical circuitry (not shown).

A second panel board, indicated at 72, is composed of a dielectric material and has fittingly or otherwise received therein a pair of junctions 74 and 76 which are suitably connected with other electrical circuitry (not shown). In order to electrically isolate junction 74 from junction 76, a sleeve 78 of a dielectric material is inserted therebetween.

Panel boards 66 and 72, as seen in FIGURE 3, have been brought into close enough proximity that terminal contact 16 engages junction 74 and terminal contact 46 engages junction 76. Sufiicient pressure is preferably applied so that both springs 18 and 48 are somewhat idepressed thereby assuring a positive engagement between the respective terminal contacts and junctions. It will thus be appreciated that the spring loaded contact 10 is operable to connect two independent electrical circuits between panel board 72 and coaxial plug 20, even when the junctions 74 and 76 are mounted at different heights or distances from panel board 66. Furthermore, spring loaded contact 10 is able to operate as a switch if the two circuits represented on one hand by junction 76, terminal contact 44, spring 48, and terminal contact 58 and on the other hand by junction 74, terminal contact 14, spring 18, and terminal contact 16 are so related that actuation of one circuit has an effect on the other upon their completion.

Accordingly, -a novel spring loaded contact has been provided which serves to provide a dual path connection between circuit components and in this capacity may serve to connect components which are mounted at different heights, the springs therein providing sufiicient resilience therefor. It may also serve as a switching device. However, although the particular embodiment shown is concerned with but two separate circuits, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention to provide a single spring loaded contact which is operable to connect more than two circuits by embodying the teaching disclosed herein. Therefore although the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification, such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intention of the invention.

I claim:

1. An electrical contact comprising: at least two concentric tubular casings, a terminal contact projecting from each end of the inner casing, spring means in said inner casing electrically and mechanically interconnecting said termial contacts, one of said terminal contacts being resiliently movable relative to the other and said inner casing, an additional terminal contact projecting from each end of the outer casing, spring means in said outer casing electrically and mechanically interconnecting said additional terminal contacts, one of said additional terminal contacts being resiliently movable relative to the other and said outer casing, and a sleeve of dielectric material fittingly received about the peripheral surface of said inner casing to electrically isolate the components of said inner casing from the components of said outer casing.

2. The electrical contact set forth in claim 1 wherein the extremity of said movable terminal contact in said inner casing normally extends beyond the extremity of said movable terminal contact in said outer casing.

3. The electrical contact set forth in claim 1 wherein said terminal contacts in said outer casing are of tubular form concentric with said inner and said outer casings.

4. The electrical contact set forth in claim 1 wherein both of said movable terminal contacts project from the same end thereof.

5. In combination, electrical circuit making apparatus comprising: a first panel having spaced electrical junctions of the multiple contact variety arranged in a pattern, a second panel movable relative to said first panel and having sets of axially aligned holes with the same pattern arrangement as said terminals, a plurality of spring loaded contact assemblies releasably mounted in said holes, said contact assemblies including at least two concentric tubular casings, a terminal contact projecting from each end of the inner casing, spring means in said inner casing electrically and mechanically interconnecting said terminal contacts, one of said terminal contacts being resiliently movable relative to the other and said outer casing, an additional contact projecting from each end of the outer casing, spring means in said Outer casing electrically and mechanically interconnecting said additional terminal contacts, one of said additional terminal contacts being resiliently movable relative to the other and said outer casing, and a sleeve of dielectric material fittingly received about the peripheral surface of said inner casing to electrically isolate the components of said inner casing from the components of said outer casing, such that when said second panel is moved toward said first panel, said movable terminal contact projecting from said inner casing is engageable with one of said junctions and said movable terminal contact projecting from said outer casing is engageable with the other of said junctions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 431,412 7/1890 Studte 33917 2,879,491 3/1959 Shapiro 33917 3,295,092 12/1966 Newman et al. 339l8 3,363,220 1/1968 Redd et al 339-255 X RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 339718, 255 

